ADVOCACY

Tripp Cofield testifying

GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE

Updates on Key Banking Legislation, Crossover Day is Friday 

Lawmakers worked into the evening this week in both chambers as Crossover Day is set for Friday in the Georgia General Assembly. Here’s a quick look at key bills we’re tracking. The GBA Advocacy team will be on-site all day tomorrow for what is traditionally a marathon session. We’ll plan to send our full Legislative Update on Monday morning.

Interchange. SB 512 by Sen. Drew Echols (R-Gainesville) was presented in the Senate Finance Committee Thursday in a hearing-only session; no vote was taken. GBA President and CEO Tripp Cofield, along with other advocates for the financial services and payment processing industries, testified in opposition. We will be monitoring closely for any late-session attempts to amend or attach the bill to other legislation.

Stablecoins. HB1272 by Rep. Todd Jones (R-South Forsyth) passed the House Wednesday.

In-Person Electronic Notary. HB1437 by Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens ) passed the House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation committee late on Wednesday.

Unauthorized Practice of Law. HB1433 by Rep. Joseph Gullett (R-Dallas) passed the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. We’re following this closely to make sure there is no unintended liability exposure for banks.

U.S. House Committee Advances Community Bank Relief Package

We appreciate U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA 11) for co-sponsoring the Main Street Capital Access Act, a legislative package aimed at easing regulatory burdens on community banks and encouraging the formation of new de novo institutions. The House Financial Services Committee voted Wednesday 26-16 to advance the legislation. The bill, introduced by Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), would raise regulatory thresholds, revise agency supervisory practices, further tailor regulations, encourage de novo banks and strengthen community development financial institutions. The legislation now moves to the full House for consideration.

OCC Eases Community Bank Regulatory Burden 

Community banks could soon see some regulatory relief following two final rules issued Tuesday by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The first rescinds the agency’s Fair Housing Home Loan Data System regulation, removing what the OCC described as outdated and redundant home loan data collection requirements. A second rule streamlines corporate activity licensing for banks with $30 billion or less in assets by creating a “covered community bank” category eligible for expedited filing procedures. Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said the changes are meant to better tailor supervision for smaller institutions. Read more here.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program Applications Open March 16

Applications for Georgia’s $531 million Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program will open March 16 for farmers, ranchers and foresters who suffered storm losses not covered by existing USDA programs. The program will remain open through April 27. The application and more information can be found at FarmRecovery.com. Eligible producers in designated disaster counties may apply for assistance covering a range of agricultural losses and damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

Who Can Apply: Georgia farmers, ranchers and foresters in eligible disaster counties

Covered Losses Include:

• Timber, pecans, blueberries and citrus
• Farm infrastructure and physical structures
• Poultry, beef and dairy cattle losses
• Milk production and dairy feed
• Nursery crops and plasticulture/bare ground practices.

For questions or assistance, contact hbg@agr.georgia.gov or 404.656.3630.

Georgia Breaks Export Records

Gov. Kemp announced today that Georgia surpassed $53 billion in exports in 2025. Highlights below:

Beige Book: Southeast Economy Shows Modest Growth

The latest Federal Reserve Beige Book reports that economic activity across the Southeast expanded at a modest to moderate pace in late January and February, with most sectors reporting little change or slight improvement.

For banks in the Sixth District, contacts described an environment of cautious lending and “reluctant investment” as businesses weigh economic uncertainty. Despite that caution, lenders generally expressed optimism about the outlook, pointing to the potential for lower borrowing rates and regulatory relief as factors that could support lending activity in the months ahead.

Elsewhere in the regional economy, retail sales grew modestly, with discount stores seeing steady demand from cost-conscious shoppers while higher-end retailers remained stable. Manufacturing activity ticked up slightly, and commercial real estate demand continued shifting toward smaller office and retail spaces. Utility providers also reported rising electricity demand driven by population growth and expanding data center development .

ATTENTION ATTORNEYS!

Status of Important Cases for March 2026

The latest ABA Newsbytes Banking Docket is now available. Read about the status of important cases here. Each article contains a “Read more” link with access to additional details on the issues, case summaries and links to related documents.

Share Your Input for the Q1 2026 Community Bank Sentiment Index

The first quarter 2026 Community Bank Sentiment Index (CBSI) survey is now open, and we encourage Georgia bankers to participate. This quick, seven-minute survey from the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) provides valuable insights into the economic outlook from the perspective of community banks nationwide.

Responses to seven core questions help gauge banker sentiment on the economic outlook, while a few additional demographic and business plan questions provide insight by bank size and geography.

The survey is open through March 31. The survey takes about six minutes to complete and requires no preparation. Complete the survey here. For more information, visit CSBS’s website.

MEMBER NEWS

GBA MEMBER PROFILE

John Hylton on Why Community Banking Means Showing Up

For John Hylton, community banking means showing up for customers, even when it requires personal sacrifice. When he heard that a customer’s wife had passed away, Hylton made the decision to leave a family vacation at Disney World a day early and drive through the night so he could attend the funeral. “While it didn’t have anything to do with banking, it had everything to do with showing them I cared,” he said. That customer has continued banking with him ever since.

Hylton serves as senior vice president and North market executive for Pinnacle Bank and is a member of the GBA Agriculture Committee. His path into banking began after an earlier career in the construction industry with a Georgia-based lumber supply company. 

Outside the office, Hylton is an avid hockey fan — a passion rooted in growing up in Colorado. Read more in his full GBA Member Profile.

Related: The GBA Agriculture Committee looks forward to welcoming peers from around the state at the 2026 Rural Development & Lending Conference May 18-19 on St. Simons. The agenda is almost finalized, but confirmed sessions include:

• Peanut Update - Marshall Lamb, Ph.D., Research Leader, the National Peanut Research Laboratory
• Beef Update - Will Secor, Agricultural & Applied Economics, UGA
• Crop Insurance - Plenn Hunnicutt, South Georgia Crop Insurance Inc
• Vegetable Update - Jessica Kirk, VP of Operations, Lewis Taylor Farms
• Farm Labor - Ellen Hendley, VP, AGWORKS H2

Learn more and register here.

Spotlight on New GBA Associate Members

Over the next few weeks, we want to give a warm welcome to several new GBA Associate Members that we onboarded last quarter. They all offer diverse solutions for your bank and provide invaluable support to GBA programs through sponsorships, exhibits and shared expertise. Be sure to get to know these folks and thank them for supporting GBA. You can get information about any of GBA's Associate Members by using the Associate Member search function on our website. This week, we want to highlight the following:

Farmer Mac

Mr. Connor Poteet, cpoteet@farmermac.com

Washington, D.C.

www.farmermac.com

Farmer Mac’s mission is to increase the accessibility of financing to provide vital liquidity for American agriculture and rural infrastructure. Serving as a secondary market for agricultural and rural infrastructure credit, Farmer Mac offers a wide range of solutions to support financial institutions’ growth, liquidity and risk management needs across diverse markets, including agriculture, agribusiness, power and utilities and broadband infrastructure.

HHM, CPAs

Mr. Jim Vaughn, jvaughn@hhmcpas.com

Chattanooga, TN

www.hhmcpas.com

HHM CPAs is a full-service accounting firm with decades of experience serving businesses and individuals. Their team provides tax, audit, advisory, valuation, wealth management, and forensic services. Known for their integrity and personalized client relationships, HHM CPAs is committed to delivering trusted financial guidance and building long-term partnerships that support growth, compliance, and financial clarity.

ImpactFI Advisors

Mr. Zack Forbes, zack@impactfiadvisors.com

Roswell, GA

www.impactfiadvisors.com

ImpactFI Advisors helps community banks thrive by optimizing technology strategies, reviewing contracts, evaluating core systems and planning modernization to strengthen competitive positioning. With deep industry experience, they guide banks to reinvest savings into innovative, differentiating initiatives. Their mission is to create transformational impact for clients, their customers and the communities they serve.

Kristopher James Company

Ms. Cynthia Glover, cglover@kristopherjamescompany.com

Carrollton, TX

www.kristopherjamescompany.com

Kristopher James Company helps financial institutions reduce costs and improve efficiency through tailored solutions in expense management, marketing programs, and operational supplies. As the preferred provider of forms and supplies for Jack Henry™, with expertise across core systems, the company streamlines printing, inventory automation, and fulfillment while delivering guaranteed savings and consistent supply-chain value.

GBA NEWS

Op/Tech Conference Wrap Up

Bank operations and technology professionals from across the state packed the meeting space at The DeSoto Hotel in Savannah for the GBA Operations and Technology Conference last week. Throughout the conference, speakers shared practical insights and tools designed to help banks strengthen operations, manage risk and navigate a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Leadership and change management
Dr. Melissa Furman of Career Potential opened the conference with strategies to help leaders navigate disruption and guide teams through change. Her presentation emphasized building leadership capacity, expanding perspectives and developing the skills needed to remain effective in a rapidly shifting industry environment.

Project management for banks
Brett Rawls of Profit Resources explored project management strategies tailored specifically for financial institutions, highlighting approaches particularly helpful in the operations and technology areas.

Telecom security risks
Scott Helms of Momentum discussed telecom-related threats targeting financial institutions, including SIM cloning, number porting and call interception. He outlined steps banks can take to strengthen network security, protect customer data and educate employees about emerging fraud tactics.

Artificial intelligence and Microsoft 365
Eric Delgado of UFS reviewed new developments within the Microsoft 365 AI ecosystem, including Copilot capabilities, data governance considerations and strategies for managing security and compliance while leveraging AI tools.

Industry and Advocacy Update
GBA’s David Oliver and Bo Brannen gave an update on all things Georgia banking. Georgia’s banks had a good year performance-wise in 2025, and there’s a lot on the advocacy team’s plate with the General Assembly in session.

Fraud trends and mitigation strategies
Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association provided an overview of the latest fraud and scam trends affecting banks, including check fraud, artificial intelligence-driven threats and emerging risks. A panel discussion featuring Troy Poulin of Flagship Bank, Shan Venable of Altamaha Bank and Trust Company and Suzanne Menendez of Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company offered additional peer insights on combating fraud and protecting customers.

Leading teams in a changing workplace
John Brantley of Auxin360 closed the program with a leadership session focused on building resilient teams and guiding organizations through constant change while empowering employees to succeed.

Attendees also participated in collaborative roundtable discussions led by Jaye Eubanks of United Bank and Sam Drennen of Peak Strategic Consulting designed to encourage peer learning and the exchange of operational best practices.

GBA extends a special thanks to Platinum Sponsors Profit Resources and BankOnITUSA, a UFS Tech Company, and Gold Sponsor ADVANTAGE, powered by JMFA as well as all of our other sponsors for supporting the event. The association also appreciates the many industry partners who participated in the sold-out exhibitor hall, which provided attendees with valuable opportunities to connect with solution providers and explore new technologies.

Check out the photos here.

Related: GBA's spring Operations & Technology Peer Group meeting is May 4 at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth in Macon. Jaye Eubanks, United Bank and Operations & Technology Committee member, will facilitate the meeting covering industry hot topics. Participants can help shape the discussion by submitting hot topics during the registration process. Learn more and register here.

TRAINING & EVENTS

Bryan Stern (right) with a Grey Bull Rescue team member

ANNUAL MEETING SPOTLIGHT

Don’t Miss Closing Speaker Grey Bull Rescue Founder

A great crowd is building for our Annual Meeting, June 7-9 at The Cloister, Sea Island. We’ve got lots of great things planned for our return to Sea Island, which represents our first time back since 2021. We hope you’re planning to join us as we welcome our bankers home to the warmth and southern hospitality of Georgia. Our closing speaker this summer is a definite don’t-miss. The founder and chairman of Grey Bull Rescue, Bryan Stern, will join us. Grey Bull Rescue is a veteran-led, donor-funded nonprofit dedicated to saving Americans and allies from war zones, disaster areas and denied regions where government or traditional aid cannot reach. Their teams are boots-on-the-ground in the Middle East as we speak. Stern is a combat veteran and crisis response leader with more than 25 years of service in the U.S. Army and Navy. He is a Purple Heart recipient, 9/11 survivor and First Responder who has led operations in some of the world’s most dangerous environments. He specializes in special operations, high-risk hostage rescue and evacuation missions behind enemy lines. Be sure you are in your seat Tuesday morning to hear Bryan’s incredible stories.

Take a look at the event website for all the details and to register. A limited number of rooms are still available at The Inn and we are working a waitlist for The Cloister. Contact GBA's Kathy Friestad with questions, 678.523.6407.

A big thanks to these Associate Members who are supporting the event through sponsorship:

Last Call for Two GBA Programs Next Week

There’s still time to register for two upcoming GBA education programs taking place next week. Don’t miss these opportunities to connect with peers and sharpen your skills in key areas of banking.

Compliance Peer Group Meeting
March 11 | Methodist Home for Children & Youth | Macon

Join compliance professionals from across Georgia for this highly interactive, banker-led discussion on current compliance challenges and regulatory developments. Moderated by Beth Hamilton, vice president and compliance officer at First National Bank, Bainbridge, the session is driven by participant-submitted topics and offers practical insights, peer collaboration and valuable networking.

Business Cash Flow Analysis Seminar
March 12 | Georgia Chamber of Commerce Center for Rural Prosperity | Tifton

Strengthen your lending skills in this hands-on seminar led by Peter Faser, business strategy advisor with The Profitability Coach and Georgia Banking School board chairman. Through lecture and casework, participants will learn practical techniques to analyze business cash flow, identify financial trends and evaluate loan requests with greater confidence.

A video message from the instructor

Breaking into Banking 201: Analyzing Repayment Sources - March 25, Zoom Webinar

This nine-module online course builds on the 101 Fundamentals of Commercial Lending program and takes a deeper dive into analyzing repayment sources. Participants will strengthen their skills in reviewing a borrower’s balance sheet, income statement, collateral and risk ratings, with a case study that brings the concepts together in a practical setting.

Designed for credit analysts, lenders and portfolio managers, this program is ideal for professionals who need stronger financial statement analysis skills and greater confidence in writing credit documents. The live webinar format makes it easy to participate from anywhere, and a recording will be available to registered attendees for one month following the session. Register today to sharpen your credit analysis expertise and enhance your impact on the lending team.

Just a Few First Year Spots Left!

 Georgia Banking School 

April 26 - May 1, University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens

More Events and Training Opportunities Coming up

• HR Professionals Institute - March 25-27, The DeSoto, Savannah

• Marketing Conference & Customer Insights Workshop - March 25-27, The DeSoto, Savannah

• BSA Peer Group Meeting - April 1, Zoom

• Bank Security Conference - April 13-15, The Westin Jekyll Island

• GBA Compliance School - April 26 - May 1, University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens

• Operations and Technology Peer Group - May 4, Methodist Home for Children & Youth, Macon

• Internal Audit Peer Group Meeting - May 14, Methodist Home for Children & Youth, Macon

• Rural Development and Lending Conference - May 18-19, The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, St. Simons

• Information Security Officer 101 Seminar - June 23, Middle Georgia State University, Macons

ONLINE LEARNING – GREAT FOR FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING

Marketing Compliance, SAR Decision Making, Teller Basics, Succession Planning for Banks and More 

Take a look at online training opportunities available to GBA members from OnCourse Learning and the American Bankers Association.

Upcoming hot topic webinars:

• Marketing Compliance: Avoiding Violations in Print & Digital Advertising – March 9
• IRA Beneficiary Payouts: The Hottest Topic in the IRA Universe – March 11
• Writing Teller Training and Procedures – March 12
• Opening New Accounts - Part 1 – March 13
• SAR Decision Making – March 19
• Call Report Lending Schedules Workshop – March 24
• TRID – Dealing with Risks: Common Violations, Gray Areas, and Regulatory Concerns - March 24 – March 24
• Call Report Update - All Day Streaming – March 26
• Mortgage Origination Compliance - 3 Part Series – March 27

Self-paced courses, certificates and reference guides:

• Reference Guide to Regulatory Compliance

• Succession Planning for Banks

• Teller Basics: Upskill for a Digital World

• Bank Teller Certificate
• Residential Mortgage Lender Certificate

Facilitated courses starting soon:

• Bank Lines of Business – April 6 - May 1
• Managing Interest Rate Risk – April 6 - May 29
• Commercial Lending – April 13 - July 3
• Building Customer Relationships – April 27 - May 22
• Marketing Planning – April 27 - May 22

PARTNERS, PRODUCTS & ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

GBA members are invited to a webinar on March 19 at 2 p.m. focused on evolving fraud threats and prevention strategies. Abrigo, an endorsed partner of the Georgia Bankers Association, will host the session alongside industry experts from Mitek. Bankers attending will learn:

• How check fraud can escalate into broader financial crime if not detected early
• What patterns and warning signs real‑world cases reveal
• Where institutions often miss opportunities to intervene and how to break the fraud chain earlier with better visibility.

This webinar is designed to help risk, compliance and operations teams strengthen fraud defenses across channels. Register here.

Banks generate enormous amounts of data across lending, deposits, risk and finance systems, but when those data sets are siloed or inconsistent, it can undermine decision-making. A recent article from GBA Associate Member Darling Consulting Group highlights why many banks are working to establish a “single source of truth” for loan and balance-sheet analytics.

When different teams rely on separate data definitions or reporting systems, banks can end up with conflicting numbers, slower analysis and reduced confidence in strategic decisions. Aligning analytics and reporting across the institution helps leadership evaluate loan portfolio performance, interest-rate risk, and balance-sheet strategy with greater clarity and consistency.

For banks, the key takeaway is the importance of consistent data governance, shared definitions, and integrated analytics to support management and ALCO discussions. Learn more at www.darlingconsulting.com.

Digital wallets are rapidly becoming a primary way consumers pay, creating both challenges and opportunities for banks. According to new insights from GBA Associate Member CSI, global digital wallet spending has surged from $1.7 trillion in 2014 to $18.7 trillion today and is projected to exceed $33 trillion by 2030.

As consumers increasingly rely on smartphones for everyday transactions, digital wallets are evolving from a convenience feature to a key touchpoint in the banking relationship. With 65% of Americans funding their digital wallets with bank-issued cards, banks have an opportunity to remain central to their customers’ daily financial lives if they adapt their strategies accordingly. See some key steps banks can take in 2026 here.

COMPLIANCE CORNER

Question: One of our business customers cashes payroll checks for its employees. Do they need to register as a Money Services Business?

Answer: Generally, no - a business that only cashes its own payroll checks for its employees likely doesn’t meet the definition of a Money Services Business under the BSA – specifically, in the capacity of a “check casher.” Click here to read more.

NEWSMAKERS

Alamo - SunMark Community Bank

The bank celebrated the ribbon cutting and grand opening of its new Alamo branch at 49 West Main Street.

Alpharetta - Touchmark National Bank

Steve Schaefer has been promoted to executive vice president and chief credit officer.

Atlanta - United Community Bank

Paige Collier has joined the bank as state president for the Metro Atlanta area.

Ellabell - BankSouth

Nichole Hearn has joined the bank as a business development officer for the BankSouth@Work program, based at the company’s Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) banking center in Bryan County. Read more.

Hawkinsville - Planters First Bank

The bank celebrated its 130th anniversary in Hawkinsville alongside the Pulaski County & Hawkinsville Chamber of Commerce.

Holly Williams and Stacey Fomby

LaGrange - First Peoples Bank

The bank officially opened its new LaGrange branch at 206 W. Haralson St. As part of this expansion, Holly Williams has joined the bank as market president for the LaGrange market and Stacey Fomby as branch manager of the LaGrange location. Read more.

Leesburg - First National Bank

Phil Franklin has joined the bank as senior relationship manager in its Leesburg office. Read more.

Marietta - the former Cobb Exchange Bank

Our sympathies to the family, friends and former colleagues of former banker and GBA Secretary/Treasurer Neil Barfield, who recently passed away. Read more.

Newington - Bank of Newington

Ken Austin joined the bank’s Newington branch as business development officer and commercial lender.

Rome - River City Bank

Jake Hager has joined the bank’s wealth management team as a client services specialist.

Thomson - Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company

Stewart Young has announced his retirement after 35 years in banking and finance, 21 of those with Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company. Read more.

Watkinsville - Oconee State Bank

Bryan Harris has been promoted to executive vice president and chief credit officer. Harris fills the seat of Tom Wilson, who retired March 1 after serving the bank for 22 years. Harris is the incoming chair of GBA’s Credit Committee. Read more.

Waycross - WB&T Bankshares, Inc.

Jessica Corley, CTP has joined WB&T Bankshares, Inc. and its subsidiary banks (Waycross Bank & Trust of Waycross, Guardian Bank of Valdosta and South Coast Bank of Brunswick) as director of treasury management.

Atlanta - Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta

Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta announced that it will allocate $120 million in 2026 to fund its affordable housing programs, which distribute grant funding for homebuyer downpayment assistance, housing development and rehabilitation and legal assistance for property owners to protect their equity and build generational wealth. Read more.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Atlanta - Georgia Banking Company

The bank’s commercial real estate team spent the day volunteering at the Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter teaching preschoolers basic money concepts using the book Bunny Money.

Bainbridge - First Port City Bank

In celebration of Read Across America, bank team member Nancy Murphy spent time reading to students at Grace Christian Academy.

Milledgeville - Century Bank and Trust

The bank made a $1,000 donation to Meals on Wheels Baldwin County in continued support of the organization’s mission to combat senior hunger and isolation in the local community. Read more.

Pulaski County - Planters First Bank

Bank CFO Kay Watson spent time reading to children at the Pulaski County Head Start program for Read Across America Week.

Twin City - Durden Banking Co.

As part of Read Across America, bank CEO Wade Johnson visited Twin City Elementary and read books with first graders.

Read All About It: Send Us Your News

We want to share your news with your colleagues across the state. Please forward your announcements and photos to GBA's David Oliver and Katina Weiss.

Recruit, Retain and Develop the Best Bankers with GBA's Job Bank

GBA will post open positions, free of charge, for GBA members. See the open positions in Georgia here. We will also post professional summaries for bank-job seekers on our Bankers Available page. Contact Katina Weiss, 404.420.2021, with questions or needs.